Financial Survival in University | Financial Assistance Service
Cost of Living at University
The costs of university can often come as a shock to students and parents alike therefore, it is important to be aware of your income and expenditure before you begin your year. Even though your studies are an investment towards future higher earnings, they do not pay the bills right now. It is advisable to be aware of the living costs, whilst studying at university. The cost of living at home or away from home varies. Many students will receive some or all of their income through their parents/guardians, however, in cases where there is a shortfall in your income; there is a variety of ways of bridging that gap.
Financial Survival at University 2024/2025
Financial wellness is important to all in order to be in a position to enjoy your time in university. Preparing a budget prior to commencing your year, re-assessing it on a monthly basis and adjusting when necessary will assist you in this goal.
To assist you in obtaining your financial wellness planning, please see below the following information (click on the links)
Academic Year September - May |
|
Living Away from Home |
Living at Home |
| Monthly costs | Monthly Costs |
| Sample Monthly Budget | Sample Monthly Budget |
| Complete your OWN Budget template | Complete your OWN Budget template |
International Research Students
Prior to committing to a research programme, you need to consider whether your stipend will be sufficient to support you through the year or if you need to bring additional funding.
Depending on your personal circumstances, you can expect to need €1,500 - €1,800 per month to support yourself while living in Dublin. This averages at between €18,000 and €21,600 per annum. Students can, of course, try to reduce these costs through prudent spending however even working on a tight budget, the cost-of-living is high in Dublin, with accommodation being the most expensive item, and you will not survive on much less than this.
Living Costs per Person:
| Expense Item | Average, per month | Average, per year |
| Food / Groceries | €320 per month average | €3,840 |
| Monthly Transport Card | €118 per month | €1,416 |
| Books / Study Materials | €75 per month average | €900 |
| Social Activities | €80 per month average | €960 |
In recent years, Ireland has experienced year-on-year inflation and unprecedented growth in demand for accommodation, which has resulted in a severe housing crisis. The demand for accommodation in the country’s capital city, Dublin, far outweighs the supply, so it is crucial that students try to secure accommodation prior to arrival or, at the very least, arrange to stay with a friend until such time that accommodation is secured.
The average price of accommodation in Dublin is as follows:
| Accommodation Type | Average, per month | Average, per year |
| On-Campus accommodation (50 weeks) | -- | €9,572 (incl. utilities) |
| Single bedroom in shared house (full year) | €811 per month average | €9,732 |
| Utilities (gas / oil / electricity) (full year) | €137 per month average | €1,644 |
Remember you will need to pay a deposit of one month’s rent plus one month’s rent in advance.
If you require a student visa to study in Ireland, please remember that there are fees associated with this. Additionally, some nationalities require visas to travel to conferences overseas.
While some Schools and/or funders might have funds available to assist with visa costs, it is generally expected that the students themselves pay for their own visa costs. Please discuss this initially with your supervisors but keep in mind that there is no guaranteed source of funds for visas.
You can find information on student visas here.
If you are attending a course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) you will have stamp number 2 endorsed on your passport when you register with your local immigration officer. You will be allowed to take up casual employment of up to 20 hours part-time work per week in term time or up to 40 hours per week during college vacation periods, that is, from June to September inclusive and from 15 December to 15 January. Your entitlement to take up employment ends when your permission to stay expires.
General Advice on Budgeting
These videos will help you learn how to budget affectively.
For queries on budgeting, contact celine.geraghty@dcu.ie
Information on the SUSI Grant together with other grants and scholarships, Student Assistance Fund, 1916 Bursary can be found by clicking the below link -
The Pantry is offered by the Office of Student Life for all students struggling with the cost of living crisis. Students can avail of this service once a week.
The Pantry is a service where students can take six non-perishable food items free of charge. This ranges from pasta, spices and canned food to health products like, shower gel or period products.
Please see details on link - https://dcustudentlife.ie/thepantry
The Office of Student Life also runs a free breakfast service for students across Glasnevin and Pat's campuses. Information can also be found on the above link. A financial assistance service is available to students who would like advice and guidance on budgeting throughout the year.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is a free, independent, confidential and non- judgmental money advice and budgeting service for all members of the public.